Robinson
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Robinson Surname Genealogy
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Robinson is a patronymic name meaning
"son of
Robin." It is said that the name was originally made
popular by Robin Goodfellow, whose mischievous tricks were later
described in Shakespeare's Midsummer
Night's Dream, and perhaps even more so by Robin of Locksley,
otherwise known as Robin Hood.
William Robinson was a wealthy York merchant in Elizabethan times. His descendants played a notable role in national politics, one being Foreign Secretary in 1782 and another briefly Prime Minister in 1827. A Robinson family from Brignall acquired the Rokeby estate in Yorkshire in 1610. They later held estates in Kent and Ireland. Matthew Robinson was an eccentric 18th century member of this family. Richard Robinson heard George Fox preach at Sedbergh and was an early Quaker convert at his home at Countersett Hall in Wensleydale.
Robinson has also been a leading name in Cumbria. William Robinson from Penrith made his fortune in the 17th century in London as a merchant and returned to found Robinson's School in his home town (the school lasted until 1971). Anthony Robinson was a prominent early Quaker at Ravenstonedale. Gerard Robinson was an 18th century mariner from Whitehaven who embarked for America.
Ireland. The Robinson name is mainly to be found in Ulster. It was thought that the Robinsons of Glenam in Antrim may have originally been Robertsons. Romney Robinson was a longtime director of the Armagh Astronomical Observatory in the 19th century. One Robinson family began in Dublin with Bryan Robinson in the 1650's. They were physicians and doctors of medicine. Later Robinsons of this family served as Victorian colonial Governors.
Americas. Christopher Robinson had emigrated to Virginia in 1670 from Cleasby in Yorkshire and his family were among the leading families of Virginia.
A later Christopher Robinson, an Empire Loyalist, took his family to Canada in 1788. Son Sir John was a leading figure in early Ontario politics, his son John Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in 1880. One of Sir John's brothers, William, was a fur trader, another, Peter, a promoter of Irish emigration to Canada.
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Robinson Resources on
The
Internet
- History of Robinson. Robinson name history.
- Robinsons in Lancashire. A Robinson family history.
William Robinson was a wealthy York merchant in Elizabethan times. His descendants played a notable role in national politics, one being Foreign Secretary in 1782 and another briefly Prime Minister in 1827. A Robinson family from Brignall acquired the Rokeby estate in Yorkshire in 1610. They later held estates in Kent and Ireland. Matthew Robinson was an eccentric 18th century member of this family. Richard Robinson heard George Fox preach at Sedbergh and was an early Quaker convert at his home at Countersett Hall in Wensleydale.
Robinson has also been a leading name in Cumbria. William Robinson from Penrith made his fortune in the 17th century in London as a merchant and returned to found Robinson's School in his home town (the school lasted until 1971). Anthony Robinson was a prominent early Quaker at Ravenstonedale. Gerard Robinson was an 18th century mariner from Whitehaven who embarked for America.
Ireland. The Robinson name is mainly to be found in Ulster. It was thought that the Robinsons of Glenam in Antrim may have originally been Robertsons. Romney Robinson was a longtime director of the Armagh Astronomical Observatory in the 19th century. One Robinson family began in Dublin with Bryan Robinson in the 1650's. They were physicians and doctors of medicine. Later Robinsons of this family served as Victorian colonial Governors.
Americas. Christopher Robinson had emigrated to Virginia in 1670 from Cleasby in Yorkshire and his family were among the leading families of Virginia.
A later Christopher Robinson, an Empire Loyalist, took his family to Canada in 1788. Son Sir John was a leading figure in early Ontario politics, his son John Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in 1880. One of Sir John's brothers, William, was a fur trader, another, Peter, a promoter of Irish emigration to Canada.
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Jack
Robinson is a fictional name in the usage: that something is
done faster "than you can say Jack Robinson." Its origins are
uncertain.
John
Robinson was the pastor of the Pilgrim Fathers before they left
for America and is considered as one of the founders of the
Congregational Church.
Sir
John Robinson was a leading political figure in Upper Canada in
the early 1800's.
Joseph Robinson, the son of an 1820 settler, was a South African mining magnate.
Edward G. Robinson, born Emanuel Goldenburg from a Romanian Jewish family, was an acclaimed American movie actor in the 1930's and 1940's.
Jackie Robinson was the black baseball player who broke the color bar in the national game.
Sugar Ray Robinson was an acclaimed American boxer.
Mary Robinson was the first
woman President of Ireland.Joseph Robinson, the son of an 1820 settler, was a South African mining magnate.
Edward G. Robinson, born Emanuel Goldenburg from a Romanian Jewish family, was an acclaimed American movie actor in the 1930's and 1940's.
Jackie Robinson was the black baseball player who broke the color bar in the national game.
Sugar Ray Robinson was an acclaimed American boxer.
Select Robinsons Today
- 188,000 in the UK (most numerous in Tyne and Wear)
- 145,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
- 71,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Australia)
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For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.
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